Chapter 38

Ella POV

The cold night of my first shift fades away and new memories surge forth.? Birthday after birthday rips through my mind.? Disappointment after disappointment with every birthday morning I woke up powerless.? The moments pause on my eighteenth birthday.?

The ringing of a phone awakens me from my sleep.? “Mmmm ‘ello,” I say sleepily into the phone.?

“Happy Birthday, my Love,”

my mother’s voice rings sweetly through the phone like a song.? “Do you feel any different?”

She asks and my heart sinks with her words.?

“No mother,”

I cannot hide the exasperation from my voice.? “I am still powerless.”

The memory fades and another comes into my field of vision.?

“No, Ella,”

My uncles voice screams at me in frustration.? “You aren’t paying attention.? Again.”

Taking a defensive stance in the center of the training field.? I motion to my Uncle that I am ready.? Circling one another I watch intently as he studies my